Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-15

not much INDUCED in, except perhaps an
occasional strip or rug. There Is
A NATIVE CARPET
Made from the worn fiber of the magGey,
much resembling hemp-which is painted
by hand, usually rose-pink ground with
dashes of green, purple and yellow. 1t Is
as durable as iron, and, strange to say, the
delicate colors are fadeless. There is also
pretty and substantial mating of Indian
manufacture made of shredded palm
leaves, colored and br ided into squares OF
varying sizes. These are called petates, and
are cool, clean and suitable to the climate.
But really these tiled or cemented floors
pale-gray color or tinted strawberry red
are TOO beautiful to be hidden by any stiff
figured covering. Bare floors are far more
appropriate in this insect-breeding latitude
besides being more healthful and Clearly
1t must be confessed. however, that they
are not without disadvantages. So much
saltpeter enters into the composition of the
cement that it retains danpness eterna!ly,
and, owing TO daily additions, is seldom
perfectly dry Mexican brooms are print
tive contTivances-a bunch of shredded
palm-leaves, or broom corn, tied together
without handle; mops there are none,
and servant never attempts to sweep
without first deluging the premises. How
ever hot the days, we have generally chilly
nights and one feels like going to bed in
ones boots, rather than put bare feet upon
floors that are as cold as tombstones or the
charity of the world. Every Mexican
house has its
sALA DE REcIBo,
reception ROOM of more or less magnif-
cence. 1t may not contain much furniture,
but is always the largest room in the house,
generally OF immense proportions. being
long and narrow like a town hall. The
asthetic beauty of its softly-tinted halls,
painted with fresco outlines, or the natural
graylsh plasters left unadorned, contrasted
with the floor of shining cement or dark
red tiles. is extremely pleasing to the eye.
The Mexican house-mother, according
to the sweet German rendering of the
word has other ideas than ours in the
arrangement Of her furniture. There are
always straight rows of chairs and sofas.
standing stiffly all around the great room.
as if set for a funeral or q lodge meet
ing. Though there are few occasions in
life Tor death when such surprising
number of seats could be required, the
family feels itself poor indeed who does
not possess sufficient number of them to
extend in an unbroken line around the en-
tire circuit of the Sdl1.
Into each corner of the room q triangular
table is fitted and in the center is q large
one, with a row of empty vases and alleged
ornaments in glass and china, ranged at
regular distances straight around the outer
edge. This table is generally covered with
large crotcheted or knitted spread, which
sweeps the floor. 1t represents a vast ex-
penditure OF precious eye-sight and hun
dreds of spools Of fine thread, for the mis-
tress of the maDse began it when a child
and finished it only in time for her we'd
ding. OF necessity, there is q lack of all
those little ornaments which American Ia
dies so delight in-brackets, easels, bric-a-
brac. etc.-because here the demands of the
Custom-house on all such articles place
them beyond the reach of any but the most
wealthy Each corner table, however, like
that in the center, is loaded with g.ass
lamps and china vases. Huge bouquets Of
paper flowers sometimes enter into the dec
orations, but blossoms made by mother
nature are seldom seen within doors. Chro-
mos and eDgravinSs appear but sparing;y
If al ali, because the duties on them render
pictures extremely expensive-a chrome
dreadful enough to set ones teeth on edge.
which might be bought, frame and all, for
q couple OF dollars in any other country,
here costs as much as decent oil painting.
At the extreme end of the SaJa de recibo,
farthest from the entrance, precisely the
same arrangement Of furniture is found in
every house-a rug or square OF carpet,
with two lines OF chair, placed
CLOSE TOGETHER, y-s-A-vIs.
Upon it. This little island in the sea of
the big, bare room is bounded on the farther
side by the sofa against the wall and to
this particular spot guests are conducted
with great ceremony on entering, Tor here
the hostess concentrates all ner social forces,
as the conductors of spiritual seances and
revival meetings understand the art of
doing.
A great deal Of visiting goes on in Mexico
for the delicate Senoritas, never having been
taught to attend any of the household af-
fairs nor educated IN the love of books be-
yond few superficial accom- plishments
naturally find life rather monoton-
Gus. 4 book is seldom read
unless it be q religious book-and a
newspaper never, for D0terfdBijiaS
does not encourage such dangerous
habits in the female members of his family
fearing it might lead to q strong-ninded -
tendencies and The pernicous independence
of American wonieu-which vices he re-
CARDS with holy horror To his mind
ignorance is bliss for-the softer sex. and the
smallest taste OF "the tree OF good and
evil would be misfortune as greatly to
be deplored as in the days of Eve He will
tell you that in himself IS vested the wis
dom of the family, and that it IS not good
for women to know more than their relig-
ious duties and how to become obedient
wives and loving mothers. He is thor
oughly convinced that further knowledge
viii destroy her greatest charm-that of
entire dependence and gentle submission
rendering her instead cranky, disconnected
and hard to control And I am not sure
but he is correct in his views.
FANNIE B. WARD.